Museums & Historic Sites In the spring of 2000 (updated 2006) the New Jersey National History Day Advisory Board conducted a survey of historic sites, museums and historical societies in New Jersey. These institutions were asked to provide information about resources that History Day students could use in their projects. The following is a list of responding institutions. Each entry contains the institution's address, phone number, operating hours and name of a contact person, and a brief description of their holdings. History Day students are encouraged to take advantage of local and state primary sources.   BARNEGAT LIGHT Barnegat Lighthouse State Park P.O. Box 167 Broadway & The Bay Barnegat Light, NJ 08006 609-494-2016 www.state.nj.us/dep/forestry/parknj/parks/barlig.html Hours: daily, call for details Contact: Rob Auremuller, blsp@cybercomm.net CAMDEN Walt Whitman House 328 Mickle Blvd. Camden, NJ 08103-1126 856-964-5383 www.hcsv.org Hours: seasonal, call for details Contact: Rob LeMaire ext 16, roblemaire@hcsv.org Historic Cold Spring Village is a 19th century open-air living history museum. It contains twenty-five antique restored buildings situated on a twenty-two acre wooded site. Historically costumed interpreters demonstrate and discuss the crafts, trades lifestyles and issues of a 19th century rural south Jersey town. Special events are held throughout the season. Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts 1048 Washington St. P.O. Box 340 Cape May, NJ 08204 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 www.capemaymac.org Hours: seasonal, call for details Contact: Elizabeth Bailey ext 127, ebailey@capemaymac.org The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts operates a Victorian era mansion devoted to the study of Victorian social history and decorative arts. The Stick style structure, believed to be designed by Frank Furness, contains fifteen furnished rooms. Living history tours are offered at special times throughout the year. CAPEMAY POINT Cape May Lighthouse Box 308 Cape May Point, NJ 08212 609-884-5404 Hours: seasonal, call for hours Contact: Rich Chiemingo ext 124, rchiemingo@capemaymac.org The Cape May Lighthouse was built in 1859, and is the third known lighthouse built at Cape May Point. CLINTON Hunterdon Historical Museum P.O. Box 5005 56 Main St. Clinton, NJ 08809 908-735-4101 www.theredmill.org Hours: T-Sat 10-4, Sun 12-5, Apr-Oct Contact: Charles Speierl, hhmredmill@yahoo.com The Hunterdon Historical Museum, home of Clinton's landmark Red Mill, was founded in 1960 as a private, non-profit educational institution and is listed on the State and National Register of Historical Places. IN addition to the circa 1810 Red Mill, the museum includes eight other period buildings and two reproductions, located on a 9 ½ acre site, that houses the museum's exhibits and interprets the agricultural, commercial and domestic heritage of the area. Our programs include interpretive school activities, living history events, lectures, concerts and festivals. With over 40,000 artifacts, the museum chronicles more than 180 years of Hunterdon County history. ELIZABETH Belcher Orgden Mansion Elizabeth Historical Foundation 1046 East Jersey St. Elizabeth, NJ 07201 908-351-2500 Hours: by appointment only Contact: Pat Struthers The Belcher-Ogden Mansion stands on property owned in 1665 by one of the first Elizabethtown settlers, John Ogden. Enlarged in 1750's, it became the official residence of Royal Gov. Jonathan Belcher, who conducted meetings of the legislature there when Elizabethtown served as the colonial capital. The Mansion features architectural details, period furnishings and a collection of American antiques. HADDONFIELD Indian King Tavern Museum 233 Kings Highway East Haddonfield, NJ 08033 856-429-6792 http://www.levins.com/tavern.html Hours: W-Sat 10-12, 1-4, Sun 1-4 Contact: Bill Mason Built circa 1750 by Matthias Aspden, a wealthy Philadelphia merchant and ship owner, the New Jersey Assembly used the Indian King Tavern as a meeting place in 1777. On May 19, 1777, the Assembly approved adoption of the Great Seal of New Jersey while in session at the Indian King. HALEDON American Labor Museum-Botto House National Landmark 83 Norwood St. Haledon, NJ 07508 973-595-7953 http://www.museumsusa.org/museums/info/1163087 Hours: W-Sat 1-4, by Appt Contact: Evelyn Hershey The American Labor Museum is headquartered in the historic Botto House National Landmark, the 1908 home of the immigrant silk mill workers. The museum has resources dealing with the history of immigrates and the labor movement, including books, dissertations, journals, teaching materials, audio & video cassettes, 2,000 artifacts, a permanent exhibit on the 1913 Paterson Silk Strike and changing exhibits throughout the year. HAMMONTON Batsto Village- Wharton State Forest 4110 Nesco Rd. Hammonton, NJ 08037 609-561-7310 Hours: daily 9-4:30 Contact: Daniel T. Campbell Batsto Village contains an archive and research library focusing on the social and economic development of the Pinelands region in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Batsto Village is a nationally-recognized historic site featuring a mansion, workers cottages, mills and farm buildings dating from the early 19th century. HANCOCKS BRIDGE Hancock House Box 78 Hancocks Bridge, NJ 08038 856-935-3218 Hours: W-Sun 10-4, Memorial Day-Labor Day Contact: Jean Powell Built in 1734, the Hancock House was the scene of a British-led massacre during the revolutionary War. HO-HO-KUS The Hermitage 335 N. Franklin Tpk Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423 201-445-8311 www.thehermitage.org Hours: Wed-Sun 1-4 (tours) Office: M-F 9-5 Contact: Andy Sandall, asandall@thehermitage.org The Hermitage is the only 18th and 19th century house in Bergen County designated as a National Historic Landmark. William Ranlett, a well-known Victorian architect, remodeled the pre-revolutionary structure into a picturesque Gothic Revival home. The original part of the house was built in circa 1740. In July 1778, after the Battle of Monmouth, Lt. Col. James Marcus Prevost and his wife Theodosia entertained George Washington at the Hermitage. LAMBERTVILLE Lambertville Historical Society P.O. Box 2 60 Bridge St. Lambertville, NJ 08530-0002 609-397-0770 Hours: April 29-Oct 29 Sat & Sun 1-4 Contact: Gene Dennsion The Lambertville Historical Society maintains the boyhood home of James Marshall, who discovery of gold in California in 1848 triggered the gold rush of 1849. The society has over 4,000 documents, photographs, maps and objects in its collection. MARGATE Lucy the Elephant/ Save Lucy Committee P.O. Box 3326 9200 Atlantic Ave. Margate, NJ 08402 609-823-6473 Hours: seasonal, call for details Contact: Josephine Harron James V. Lafferty, a Philadelphia entrepreneur, built Lucy the Elephant at Margate City to promote his real estate interests. Lafferty sold Lucy in 1887, and for the next 83 years belonged to the Gertzen family, who rented the building as a home and tavern. Later, Lucy became a tourist attraction. MORRISTOWN Morris County Historical Society 86 Morris Ave Morristown, NJ 07960 973-267-3465 www.acornhall.org Hours: M-F 9-5, Sun 1-5 Contact: Carrie Levin The Morris County Historical Society produces program, exhibits and publications, including a spring and fall lecture series, children's workshops and trips. Exhibits and publications focus on topics ranging from the Women's Suffrage Movement to a survey of American clocks. Acorn Hall, an Italianate mansion, is a historic house of the Victorian era. The Hall's collections include costumes and textiles, historic artifacts, and examples of decorative arts. Acorn Hall also has a Victorian research library, open by appointment. NEWARK New Jersey Historical Society 52 Park Place Newark, NJ 07102 973-596-8500 Hours: Exhibitions Tues-Sat 10-5, Library/Archives Tues-Sat 12-5 Contact: Margaret Renn ext 236 The New Jersey Historical Society library and archives contains diverse holdings in New Jersey history, including photographs, maps, diaries, letters and unique manuscript collection. The society also hosts hands-on education programs for students exploring NJ history through primary sources and teacher workshops showing how to use/integrate primary sources and NJ history in teaching. There are three interactive exhibition galleries with changing exhibits that explore and celebrate NJ's unique contributions to NJ history, and publishes Jersey Journey's, a history newspaper for students. NORTH BRUNSWICK New Jersey Museum of Agriculture 103 College Farm Rd. P.O. Box 7788 North Brunswick, NJ 08902 732-249-2077 www.agriculturemuseum.org Hours: Tues-Sun 10-4 Contact: Coles Roberts The New Jersey Museum of Agriculture has many resources available to scholars, including the second largest collection of farm implements and equipment on the East Coast. It also has a photography collection containing over 10,000 images ranging from the late 1800's to mid-20th century. The museum has a library of books and other published material covering the same time period as the photographs. The museum also has several education programs and weekend events per month, and interactive exhibits. OAKHURST Township of Ocean Historical Museum 163 Monmouth Road Oakhurst, NJ 07755 732-531-2136 Hours: Tues 1-4 Contact: Virginia Richmond We are a small two-room museum located in the old Oakhurst School. Our resources re mostly related to the Township of Ocean. We have numerous photographs, books about township and many artifacts. We do nave some information relating to Monmouth County. OXFORD Shippen Manor/Oxford Furnace 8 Belvidere Ave Oxford, NJ 07863 908-453-4981 Hours: 8:30-4:30 M-F, 1st & 2nd Sun 1-4 Contact: Susan Morgan Shippen Manor has extensive genealogical collection dealing mainly with Warren and Sussex Counties and copies of journals, ledgers, etc relating to the 18th & 19th century history of the Oxford Furnace. Shippen Manor (c. 1754) is a house museum furnished in a colonial & Victorian periods. Oxford furnace (c. 1741) is the third charcoal iron furnace built in the colony of NJ, and was the site of several technological advances in the industry. PATTERSON Great Falls National Natural Landmark District Great Falls Visitors Center 65 McBride Ave Ext Paterson, NJ 07501-1751 888-GRT-FALLS Hours: M-F 9-4, Sat & Sun seasonal April-Oct Contact: Joeen Cecchetti, patziscent@interactive.net The Great Falls Visitor Center has a collection of reference materials about history of Paterson and Great Falls Historic District, including written material, maps, photographs and slides/video. We work closely with the Patterson Museum and give tours of the Great Falls Historic District, Downtown Commercial Historic District, and the Patterson Museum. PLAINSBORO Plainsboro Historical Society 641 Plainsboro Road Plainsboro, NJ 08536 609-799-9040 www.plainsboro.com Hours: 1st & 3rd Sun 2-4:30, other hrs by apt Contact: Robert Yuell We have much material and objects about Plainsboro. We currently have sixteen unique displays in our museum about Plainsboro. PRINCETON Rockingham Historic Site 108 County Road 518 Princeton, NJ 08540 609-683-7132 www.rockingham.net Hours: Wed-Sat 10-12 & 1-4, Sun 1-4 Contact: Margaret Carlsen The Rockingham Historic Site features an 18th & 19th century farmhouse, 18th century furniture, personal items and art, a collection of 18th-20th century linens, reproduction clothing, costumed interpreters, and herb & flower gardens. ROCKAWAY Rockaway Borough Public Library and Museum 82 E. Main St. Rockaway, NJ 07866 http://rockboro.gti.net Hours: Mon & Wed 12-8, Tues Thurs & Fri 10-6, Sat 10-2 Contact: Edna Puleo Built in the early 1800s by Col. Joseph Jackson, the library houses a collection of Lt. Edmund Drake Halsey's Civil War letters, The museum's collection include photographs, letters, tools, furniture, rare books, maps, and other artifacts from borough families, trade, merchants, churches and schools. The library has a reference and circulating collection of books pertaining to Rockaway, Morris County and New Jersey history. RUTHERFORD Meadowlands Museum P.O. Box #3 91 Crane Ave Rutherford, NJ 07070 201-935-1175 Hours: Sat-Mon & Wed call for specific hours Contact: Jackie Bunker-Lohrenz We collect, preserve and exhibit historical photographs, papers and artifacts of the communities surrounding New Jersey's Meadowlands area. Our current focus is on the area at the last turn of the century. We also have access to many local historians who are willing to work with students. SAYERVILLE Sayreville Historical Society P.O. Box 66 425 Main St. Sayreville, NJ 08872 732-390-7048 Hours: Sun 1:30-4 or by apt Contact: Katherine F. Boehm The Sayreville Historical Society contains a large collection of memorabilia, including contracts, brick samples, and company brochures of the Sayre & Fisher Brick Co., which produced bricks from 1850-1950, potter artifacts from early 19th century, one of only four known Golding Pearl Jobber Printing Presses, and various published reports and books on local history. SOMERSET Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park 625 Canal Rd. Somerset, NJ 08873 609-397-2000 Hours: Wed-Sun 9-5 Contact: Elizabeth Dowd, drcc@blast.net The Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park spans the length of the canal from New Brunswick to Trenton and along the feeder canal from Trenton north to Raritan Rock. The canal can be used to study the growth of transportation, commerce and industry in New Jersey. The park has oral histories or former canal workers and videotapes on the canal's history. SUMMIT Summit Historical Society- The Carter House 90 Butler Parkway P.O. Box 464 Summit, NJ 07902-0464 908-277-1747 Hours: Tues 9:30-noon, Wed 1:30-4, other times by apt Contact: Any docent, president@summitnjhistory.org The Summit Historical Society preserves, maintains and promotes the history of Summit and the surrounding areas. Our headquarters and museum, the circa 1741 Carter House, is the oldest known structure in Summit. Our resources include books, maps, newspapers, photographs, postcards, farm implements, genealogy records, census data, city directories dating to 1898, family histories and costumes. TOMS RIVER Ocean County Historical Society 26 Hadley Ave. P.O. Box 2191 Toms River, NJ 08754-2191 732-341-1800 http://www.oceancountyhistory.org/ Hours: M-F 9-4:30, Sat 10-4 Contact: oceanconty.history@verizon.net Our Victorian period house was built, in stages, between 1820-1868. Our permanent collection and changing exhibitions depict the life-styles and occupations of Ocean County families. Highlights include a Barnegat Bay sneak box, cranberry sorter, moss press, 19th century kitchen, and collection of early 20th century costumes and textiles, local Revolutionary War and Civil War memorabilia, Native American artifacts and Barnegat Bay duck decoys. Our 8000 volume library contains books, maps, newspapers, historic documents, cemetery records and the files of over 500 Ocean County families for genealogical research. WAYNE Dey Mansion Museum- Washington's Headquarters 199 Totowa Road Wayne, NJ 07470 973-696-1776 Hours: W-F 1-4, Sat-Sun 10-12 & 1-4 Contact: Arlene Potenzohe The Dey Mansion is a 1740 Georgian home that serves as General George Washington's military headquarters during the Revolutionary War. The museum, owned and operated by the Passaic County Dept. of Parks, is furnished with period antiques. We interpret the Revolutionary War, colonial life and the Dey family through the guided tours and living history programs. WESTFIELD Miller-Cory House Museum 614 Mountain Ave. Westfield, NJ 07090 908-232-1776 http://www.westfieldnj.com/mc/index.htm Hours: Sun 2-5, by apt for groups more than 10 Contact: mc@westfieldnj.com The Miller-Cory House Museum is a living farm museum, depicting the period 1740-1820. Costumed docents guide tours through the 18th century four room farmhouse located in the West Fields of Elizabethtown. Craft demonstrations and lectures are presented each Sunday afternoon. In addition, open-hearth cooking demonstrations take place in the Frazee house on the grounds. Our volunteer cooks use authentic recipes, cooking utensils and techniques of the period. WEST ORANGE Edison National Historic Site Main St. Lakeside Ave. West Orange, NJ 07052 973-736-0550 x22 www.nps.gov/edis Hours: call for details Contact: Leonard DeGraaf, Leonard_degraaf@nps.gov The Edison National Historic Site preserves the laboratories Thomas Edison occupied from 1887 until 1931, and his nearby home, Glenmont. The site contains a five million-page archive featuring Edison's person and business papers, lab notebooks, patents and other material. The archive documents Edison's work in electric lighting, sound recording, motion pictures, storage batteries and other technologies. The site also has 60,000 image photograph collection, 35,000 historic sound recordings, Edison's 10,000-volume research library, and over 400,000 artifacts, including models of his inventions and the furnishings of his home and laboratory.